Learn about new tech gadgets on today’s market

Published: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 12:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 12:31 p.m.

This weekly roundup takes a look at the practical and sometimes quirky aspects of tech products.

Stylish bag carries its weight

Tired of lugging a boring briefcase to work? Take a look at the Hamptons, an eye-catching tote bag with plenty of room for your electronic gear. Decorated with oversized metal buttons, a colorful polka-dot liner and a removable reversible solid/polka-dot belt, the whimsical tote has a practical side, too. The handy bag has a padded compartment for a laptop, a padded pocket for a tablet and multiple places to stash a phone, keys, pens and other essentials. Available in red, yellow, black, blue and terra green, the Hamptons bag from OGIO costs $65. Other styles include the Brooklyn, a shoulder bag that holds a tablet, for $40, and the Manhattan, a satchel that holds a laptop and tablet for $65.

www.ogio.com

Travel mug keeps coffee hot

If your morning cup of Joe turns lukewarm before you arrive at your destination, try pouring your coffee into a Hot Rod Heated Travel Mug from Think Geek. Equipped with a 12-volt DC adapter, the 16-ounce thermally insulated travel mug can be plugged into your car for extra warmth. An analog gauge lets you monitor the coffee’s temperature while a toggle switch lets you turn the heat on or off. It costs about $25

www.thinkgeek.com

Phones converge at home

Cell phone? Home phone? It’s all the same when you use a Link2Cell Bluetooth phone system. With Panasonic’s system, you can link two cell phones to your home’s cordless handsets. When connected, you can have a cell phone conversation via your home phone. The system also can announce who is calling, block unwanted calls and signal when a text message comes in. Another handy feature: You can copy your cell phone’s directory into your home phone’s database via wireless Bluetooth technology. The KX-TG7733S Link2Cell Bluetooth Convergence Solution, which includes three digital handsets, costs about $100. The KX-TG7732S, which has two handsets, is $80, and the KX-TG7731S, which has one handset, is $60.

www.panasonic.com/phonestuff

Case transfers info

When you meet someone you’d like to connect with later, you could hand them a business card. Or you could let them scan your phone case. That’s the idea behind Findables, a line of cases with a unique code that when scanned, delivers select info about you. Depending on your needs at the moment, you can set the scan to share a Business profile or a Social Profile created online via a mobile app. There’s even a Lost setting that helps a stranger return a misplaced phone. Designed to fit a variety of phones, prices range from about $20 to $30.

www.findables.me

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